John E. Mitchell, 83, of Boise, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 22, 2002, of natural causes. Vigil services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Boise. Burial will follow in Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise.

John was born Sept. 12, 1918, in Twin Falls, the son of William C. and Winifred LaTourette Mitchell. He attended schools in Heyburn and Rupert, graduating from Rupert High School in 1936. He attended Gooding College and transferred to Willamette University in Salem, Ore., graduating in 1942.

John did graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Idaho, Seattle University, and the College of Idaho. When his daughter, Terri, graduated from the College of Idaho, it was noted that three generations of Mitchells had attended that school: John, his father and his daughter.

He taught school in Richfield and Salmon, and in 1948 returned to Rupert High School. There he met and married Rena Inama on Dec. 26, 1950. He continued to teach at Rupert and eventually Minico high schools, before he moved the family to Boise where he was a math teacher and head of the math department at Bishop Kelly High School for 19 years. He received the first Teacher of the Year award from Bishop Kelly and was active in all BK functions.

Being a jack-of-all-trades, he sponsored the Science Club on their annual science trips to the Oregon coast and national parks, sang the national anthem at sporting events, and marked the football field for games. He followed the activities of his own children and encouraged them in their academic achievements, seeing them all graduate from college. He spent many summers camping and backpacking with his family and friends and was known, along with his friend Ken Egerman, as the two who took nine nuns backpacking in the Seven Devils.

He drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska and back, and he and his brother-in-law spent many trips exploring Idaho and wanting "to see where that road went." He retired in 1984 after 40 years of teaching and volunteered many hours at St. Vincent DePaul, serving on their board, and on the Sacred Heart Church Council. He was a life member of the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, serving as secretary and state deputy of the State Council of the KC as well as local offices.

In the early 1970s, he and the late Dr. Roy Peterson were asked by Bishop Trienan to establish a pro life organization and as a result they co-founded the Idaho Right to Life Society and served as its first presidents. John was a member of the Sacred Heart Choir for many years, until several debilitating strokes left him unable to participate. Even then, he would join in the singing at birthdays and Christmas, demonstrating his love of music.

He is survived by his wife of 51 1/2 years, Rena; their four children, Bill (Sharon) of Meridian, Mike (Debbe) of Emmett, Terri of Seattle, Wash., and Susan (Jerry) Connolly of Ellensburg, Wash.; and an "adopted" daughter, Therese MacIsaac of Seattle. He is also survived by a son, Emerson (Johanna) of Martinez, Calif.; and daughter, Jeanne of Monterey, Calif. His grandchildren are Jake (Jennis) Mitchell of Boise, Angie (Kenyon) Butler of Provo, Utah, Bret Mitchell, serving an LDS mission in the Fiji Islands, Mike Mitchell, serving a mission in Bangkok, Thailand, Christopher, Michael, David, and Teresa Connolly of Ellensburg, Wash., Merlin Mitchell of New York City, and Arwyn Mitchell of Richmond, Ind.

He is also survived by a brother-in-law/"exploring companion," William T. Bennett of Caldwell; and a sister-in-law, Anne Aitken of Boise; and several nephews and nieces. The family would like to thank the myriad of home health aides, therapists and hospice nurses who have helped care for John these last eight years. You know who you are. We feel it takes a special person to do this kind of labor of love and we appreciate all the care and compassion shown to him. We are also very grateful to all the special friends and neighbors who have been so generous in their time and in their service. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Mont. 59004-1001, a favorite charity of John and Rena; or to a charity of one's choice.

"Happy Trails, Dad"

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